Aims

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in adolescents and children. The aetiology of the disease remains unknown. Previous studies have shown a lower bone mineral density in individuals with idiopathic scoliosis, which may contribute to the causation. The aim of the present study was to compare bone health in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis with controls.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of additional surgery in the lumbar spine and to describe long-term changes in patient-reported outcomes after surgery for lumbar disc herniation in adolescents and young adults.

Background and purpose

Trajectories of change over time can illustrate the course of pain. Back pain trajectories have previously been identified among adults. Understanding different patterns of back pain among adolescents could shed light on how persistent back pain develops. We aimed to identify and compare trajectories of back pain among adolescents in the general population.

The aim of this study was to compare the treatment ouctomes of severe idiopathic scoliosis (IS) (>90 degrees) using the staged surgery with initial limited internal distraction and typical IS treated using segmental pedicle screw instrumentation. We hypothesized that staged surgical treatment of severe scoliosis would improve more HRQoL and pulmonary function (PF) as compared with posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for typical IS curves.

It was a retrospective review of a consecutive series of 60 IS, severe group (SG) vs. moderate group (MG) with min. 2 years of follow up (FU).

The mean preoperative major curve (MC) was 120° and thoracic kyphosis (TK) was 80° for the SG and 54° and 17° for the MG, respectively (p<0.001). The MC was corrected to 58° and TK to 32° for the SG; the MC to 26° and TK to 14°, for the MG, respectively (p<0.001). The mean preoperative AVT was 8.9 cm and improved to 2.8 cm at the final FU for the SG and from 6.5 cm to 2.2 cm at the final FU for the MG (p<0.001). At baseline, the FVC% & FEV1% values were significant different between the two groups (41.5% vs. 83%, p <0.001) & (41.6% vs. 77%, p <0.001). Compared the baseline for SG vs. the values at 2-year FU the FVC % values were (41.5% vs. 66.5%, p <0.001), and the baseline for MG vs. the values at 2-year FU, the FEV1 values were (77% vs. 81%, NS). At last FU, no complications were reported.

Gradual traction with complicity of multilevel Ponte's osteotomies and neuromonitoring followed by staged pedicle screws instrumentation in severe IS proved to be a safe and effective method improving spinal deformity (52% correction), PF (improved percentage of predicted forced vital capacity by 49%), and health-related quality and allows to achieve progressive curve correction with no neurologic complications associated to more aggressive one-stage surgeries.

Department of Epidemiology, ASL RM/E, Rome, Italy

School of Health and Social Care, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, UK

Faculty of Health, Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent, UK

Orthopaedic and Trauma Department, “Tzanio” General Hospital of Piraeus, Greece

University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Japan

Thriasio General Hospital, Athens, Greece

To evaluate the efficacy of bracing in adolescent patients with AIS.

Cochrane systematic review

The following databases were searched with no language limitations: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL and reference lists of articles. Extensive hand searching of grey literature was also conducted. RCT's and prospective cohort studies comparing braces with no treatment, other treatment, surgery, and different types of braces were included. Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.

Two studies were included. There was very low quality evidence from one prospective cohort study including 286 girls¹indicating that braces curbed curve progression, at the end of growth, (success rate 74%), better than observation, (34%) and electrical stimulation (33%). Another low quality evidence from one RCT with 43 girls indicated that a rigid brace is more successful than an elastic one (SpineCor) at limiting curve progression when measured in Cobb degrees². No significant differences between the two groups in the subjective perception of daily difficulties associated with brace wearing were found.

There is very low quality evidence in favour of using braces, making generalization very difficult. The results from future studies may differ from these results. In the meantime, patients' choices should be informed by multidisciplinary discussion. Future research should focus on short and long-term patient-centred outcomes as well as measures such as Cobb angles. RCTs and prospective cohort studies should follow both the SRS and the Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) criteria for bracing studies.

There are limited data on scoliosis in cystic fibrosis (CF), and the two most recent studies came to opposite conclusions. Reported prevalence ranges from 2% (within the normal range for the general population) to 15.5%. We felt that a recent study under-estimated the prevalence due to a very young population (mean age 10.9 years), since scoliosis develops most commonly in adolescents. We hypothesised that scoliosis is more prevalent in adolescents with CF compared to the general population. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of scoliosis in adolescents with CF followed to and beyond skeletal maturity and describe the type of spinal deformity. We included all patients in our CF clinic aged >10 years, and those who have transitioned to adult services in the last 10 years. Patients with a co-existent neuromuscular condition were excluded.

We conducted a retrospective observational study. Most recent chest radiographs at end of spinal growth, or those taken at transition to adult services, were reviewed by a Consultant Radiologist and a Consultant Spine Surgeon. Scoliosis was defined as a Cobb angle of >10° in the coronal plane. Demographics and characteristics of the curves were recorded.

Our cohort included 143 CF patients (48% male) with a mean age at the time of chest radiograph of 18 years (range 15–22 years). 16 (6 male) subjects were noted to have scoliosis with a mean (range) Cobb angle of 14° (10–38°) giving a prevalence of 11%. 13 were single thoracic curves, 2 double and 1 triple. The majority were non-progressive short mid-thoracic curves, convex to the right. 5 curves were progressive, only one of which was significant and required bracing to the end of growth but no surgical treatment.

We found a prevalence of scoliosis in our adolescent CF population that is significantly greater than the general population. Only one curve was significant and progressive requiring bracing, the remainder being minor and non-progressive. A strength of our study is that all patients had achieved skeletal maturity at the time of latest X-ray and, therefore, development or further progression of scoliosis is unlikely. The negative effect of scoliosis on lung function is well-documented. With the progressive nature of CF lung disease, scoliosis may have further deleterious effects. Bone disease is increasingly recognised in CF patients, with osteopenia and osteoporosis occurring earlier and more frequently than in the general population (38% & 24% respectively in 18–32 year old CF patients). To date, studies have failed to show a correlation between scoliosis, lung function and bone mineral density. The paradigm of a radiologically significant (Cobb angle >10°) versus a clinically important scoliosis remains.

Aims

Severe spinal deformity in growing patients often requires surgical management. We describe the incidence of spinal deformity surgery in a National Health Service.

AIS is present in 3–5% of the general population. Large curves are associated with increased pain and reduced quality of life. However, no information is available on the impact of smaller curves, many of which do not reach secondary care. The objective of this project was to identify whether or not there is any hidden burden of disease associated with smaller spinal curves.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a population-based birth cohort that recruited over 14,000 pregnant women from the Bristol area between 1991–1992 and has followed up their offspring regularly. At aged 15 presence or absence of spinal curvature ≥6degrees was identified using the validated DXA Scoliosis Measure in 5299 participants. At aged 18 a structured pain questionnaire was administered to 4083 participants. Chi-squared was used to investigate any association between presence of a spinal curve at aged 15 and self-reported pain at aged 18 years. Sensitivity analyses were performed by rerunning analyses after excluding those who were told at aged 13 they had a spinal curve (n=27), and using a higher spinal curve cut-off of ≥10degrees.

Full data was available for 3184 participants. Of these, 56.8% were female, and 4.2% non-white reflecting the local population. 202 (6.3%) had a spinal curve ≥6degrees and 125 (3.9%) had a curve ≥10degrees. The mean curve size was 12degrees. 140/202 (69.3%) had single curves, and 57.4% of these were to the right. In total 46.3% of the 3184 participants reported aches and pains that lasted for a day or longer in the previous month, consistent with previous literature. 16.3% reported back pain. Those with spinal curves ≥6degrees were 42% more likely to report back pain than those without (OR 1.42, 95%CI 1.00 to 2.02, P=0.047). In addition, those with spinal curves had more days off school, were more likely to avoid activities that caused their pain, were more likely to think that something harmful is happening when they get the pain, and were more afraid of the pain than people without spinal curves (P<0.05). Sensitivity analyses did not change results.

We present the first results from a population-based study of the impact of small spinal curves and identify an important hidden burden of disease. Our results highlight that small scoliotic curves that may not present to secondary care are nonetheless associated with increased pain, more days off school and avoidance of activities.

The SRS-22 instrument was developed to assess quality of life in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients (AIS). The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of surgical treatment on quality of life in neurologically normal patients with complex spinal deformity of a range of aetiologies using the SRS-22 questionnaire.

We analysed prospectively collected SRS-22 data on 407 consecutive patients (315 females-92 males) treated from 2006–2012 under the care of the senior author. 97.6% of patients had a posterior (PSF), 1.3% an anterior (ASF) and 1.1% an anterior-posterior (A/PSF) spinal fusion. Questionnaires were completed at 4 stages of treatment: preoperatively, 6-months, 12-months and 24-months postoperatively. Other variables included age at surgery, gender, diagnosis and year of surgery. 9 diagnoses were included in the study: 271 patients had AIS; 39 Scheuermann's kyphosis; 31 spondylolisthesis; 16 congenital scoliosis; 13 JIS; 6 IIS; 13 scoliosis associated with intraspinal anomalies; 11 syndromic scoliosis; 7 scoliosis associated with congenital cardiac disease. Mean age at surgery was 15.14±2.07 years. Age at surgery was divided in 3 groups to compare outcomes against previous studies: 10–12, 13–15, and 15–19 years.

Mean total SRS-22 scores for the whole group were: preoperative 3.62±0.66; 6-month 4.12±0.44; 12-month 4.39±0.40; and 24-month 4.52±0.37 (p<0.0001). Individual preoperative scores for the whole group were: function 3.77±0.75; pain 3.7±0.97; self-image 3.14±0.66; mental 3.86±0.77. Mean 24-month postoperative scores for the whole group were: function 4.39±0.42; pain 4.59±0.56; self-image 4.39±0.51; mental 4.43±0.56; satisfaction 4.81±0.40. All changes observed at 2-year follow-up were statistically significant (p<0.0001). Male preoperative total score (3.64±0.66) did not have a significant difference compared to female (3.62±0.66); however 24-month total score improvement was significant, with males (4.62±0.25) performing better than females (4.49±0.39) including satisfaction (p=0.004). Spondylolisthesis patients performed worse preoperatively (2.93±0.26) compared to other diagnoses (p<0.0001); AIS 3.67±0.64, congenital 3.81±0.57, syndromic 3.80±0.54, Scheuermann's 3.48±0.75, JIS 3.90±0.63, scoliosis with congenital cardiac disease 4.04±0.41 or intraspinal anomalies 3.71±0.66, and IIS 3.58±0.80. No change in total and individual scores was observed at 24-month review across diagnoses (p>0.05). There were no significant changes between each year of surgery in the study period and the total values at each stage (p>0.05). There were no significant changes between the 3 age ranges at each stage (p>0.05). Patients undergoing ASF performed significantly better at preoperative function (4.7±0.27) compared to PSF (3.76±0.74) and A/PSF (3.68±0.72), (p=0.19). All values at 2-years were not significant in comparison regarding type of operation (p>0.05).

All individual domains and total SRS-22 scores improved after surgical correction of spinal deformity in our young patient cohort with an incremental change between preoperative, 6-month, 12-month and 24-month postoperative. Our 24-month postoperative outcomes in all diagnoses compare favourably to reported SRS-22 scores in healthy adolescents (function: 4.31±0.54; pain: 4.44±0.67; image: 4.41±0.64; mental health: 3.96±0.81; total 4.26±0.54). We are planning to continue this study with longer follow-up in order to allow comparison of our SRS-22 outcomes after surgical treatment to those obtained in patients treated with bracing or patients who were followed untreated (previous reports SRS-22 total scores: 4.2 for braced patients and 4.1 for observed patients).

A combined anterior and posterior surgical approach is generally recommended in the treatment of severe congenital kyphosis, despite the fact that the anterior vascular supply of the spine and viscera are at risk during exposure. The aim of this study was to determine whether the surgical treatment of severe congenital thoracolumbar kyphosis through a single posterior approach is feasible, safe and effective.

We reviewed the records of ten patients with a mean age of 11.1 years (5.4 to 14.1) who underwent surgery either by pedicle subtraction osteotomy or by vertebral column resection with instrumented fusion through a single posterior approach.

The mean kyphotic deformity improved from 59.9° (45° to 110°) pre-operatively to 17.5° (3° to 40°) at a mean follow-up of 47.0 months (29 to 85). Spinal cord monitoring was used in all patients and there were no complications during surgery. These promising results indicate the possible advantages of the described technique over the established procedures. We believe that surgery should be performed in case of documented progression and before structural secondary curves develop. Our current strategy after documented progression is to recommend surgery at the age of five years and when 90% of the diameter of the spinal canal has already developed.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1527–32.

Aims. This study aimed to evaluate rasterstereography of the spine as a diagnostic test for adolescent idiopathic soliosis (AIS), and to compare its results with those obtained using a scoliometer. Methods. Adolescents suspected of AIS and scheduled for radiographs were included. Rasterstereographic scoliosis angle (SA), maximal vertebral surface rotation (ROT), and angle of trunk rotation (ATR) with a scoliometer were evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots were used to describe the discriminative ability of the SA, ROT, and ATR for scoliosis, defined as a Cobb angle > 10°. Test characteristics (sensitivity and specificity) were reported for the best threshold identified using the Youden method. AUC of SA, ATR, and ROT were compared using the bootstrap test for two correlated ROC curves method. Results. Of 212 patients studied, 146 (69%) had an AIS. The AUC was 0.74 for scoliosis angle (threshold 12.5°, sensitivity 75%, specificity 65%), 0.65 for maximal vertebral surface rotation (threshold 7.5°, sensitivity 63%, specificity 64%), and 0.82 for angle of trunk rotation (threshold 5.5°, sensitivity 65%, specificity 80%). The AUC of ROT was significantly lower than that of ATR (p < 0.001) and SA (p < 0.001). The AUCs of ATR and SA were not significantly different (p = 0.115). Conclusion. The rasterstereographic scoliosis angle has better diagnostic characteristics than the angle of trunk rotation evaluated with a scoliometer, with similar AUCs and a higher sensitivity. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(4):431–438

Aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether, after correction of an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), leaving out the subfascial drain gives results that are no worse than using a drain in terms of total blood loss, drop in haemoglobin level, and opioid consumption. Methods. Adolescents (aged between 10 and 21 years) with an idiopathic scoliosis (major curve ≥ 45°) were eligible for inclusion in this randomized controlled noninferiority trial (n = 125). A total of 90 adolescents who had undergone segmental pedicle screw instrumentation were randomized into no-drain or drain groups at the time of wound closure using the sealed envelope technique (1:1). The primary outcome was a drop in the haemoglobin level during first three postoperative days. Secondary outcomes were 48-hour postoperative oxycodone consumption and surgical complications. Results. All 90 patients were included in the primary outcome analysis (no drain = 43; drain = 47). The mean total postoperative blood loss (intraoperative and drain output) was significantly higher in the group with a subfascial drain than in the no-drain group (1,008 ml (SD 520) vs 631 ml (SD 518); p < 0.001). The drop in haemoglobin level did not differ between the study groups over the postoperative timepoints (p = 0.290). The 48-hour opioid consumption was significantly higher in the no-drain group (2.0 mg/kg (SD 0.9) vs 1.4 (SD 0.6); p = 0.005). Two patients in the no-drain and one patient in the drain group developed a surgical site infection. Conclusion. Leaving the subfascial drain out after pedicle screw instrumentation for AIS is not associated with higher postoperative haemoglobin levels. Patients treated without a subfascial drain needed 30% more opioids during the first 48 hours than those who had a drain. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(9):1067–1072

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued guidelines that state fusion for non-specific low back pain should only be performed as part of a randomised controlled trial, and that lumbar disc replacement should not be performed. Thus, spinal fusion and disc replacement will no longer be routine forms of treatment for patients with low back pain. This annotation considers the evidence upon which these guidelines are based.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1003–1005.

We carried out a study to determine the effect of facet tropism on the development of adolescent and adult herniation of the lumbar disc. We assessed 149 levels in 140 adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years and 119 levels in 111 adults aged between 40 and 49 years with herniation. The facet tropism of each patient was measured at the level of the herniated disc by CT.

There was no significant difference in facet tropism between the herniated and the normal discs in both the adolescent and adult groups, except at the L4-L5 level in the adults. Facet tropism did not influence the development of herniation of the lumbar disc in either adolescents or adults.

Back pain is a common symptom in children and adolescents. Here we review the important causes, of which defects and stress reactions of the pars interarticularis are the most common identifiable problems. More serious pathology, including malignancy and infection, needs to be excluded when there is associated systemic illness. Clinical evaluation and management may be difficult and always requires a thorough history and physical examination. Diagnostic imaging is obtained when symptoms are persistent or severe. Imaging is used to reassure the patient, relatives and carers, and to guide management.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:717–23.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of adults with spina bifida cystica (SBC) who had been treated either operatively or non-operatively for scoliosis during childhood.

We reviewed 45 patients with a SBC scoliosis (Cobb angle ≥ 50º) who had been treated at one of two children’s hospitals between 1991 and 2007. Of these, 34 (75.6%) had been treated operatively and 11 (24.4%) non-operatively. After a mean follow-up of 14.1 years (standard deviation (sd) 4.3) clinical, radiological and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes were evaluated using the Spina Bifida Spine Questionnaire (SBSQ) and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Although patients in the two groups were demographically similar, those who had undergone surgery had a larger mean Cobb angle (88.0º (sd 20.5; 50.0 to 122.0); versus 65.7º (sd 22.0; 51.0 to 115.0); p < 0.01) and a larger mean clavicle–rib intersection difference (12.3 mm; (sd 8.5; 1 to 37); versus 4.1 mm, (sd 5.9; 0 to 16); p = 0.01) than those treated non-operatively. Both groups were statistically similar at follow-up with respect to walking capacity, neurological motor level, sitting balance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes.

Spinal fusion in SBC scoliosis corrects coronal deformity and stops progression of the curve but has no clear effect on HRQOL.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1244–51